A PHOTOGRAPHER has raised concerns about a 'sudden drop' in the water level of a Golden Valley river.

Derrick Golland regularly photographs rivers during his strolls across the county. The former teacher specialising in environmental education checks the Environment Agency website for river levels, so he can get the best pictures.

The River Dore, flows from the Black Mountains for 12 miles through the Golden Valley through Dorstone, Peterchurch, Vowchurch, Abbey Dore and Pontrilas, before reaching the Monnow near Llangua, which flows into the River Wye at Monmouth.

Data previously released by the Environment Agency showed the range as 0.19 metres to 1.20 metres, with the highest being a recording of 1.94m in February 2014.

Looking for his next river picture Derrick noticed that the depth of the river at Horsepool Bridge in Peterchurch has now fallen to 12 centimetres, below its minimum range.

"This is a river that has done so much to shape the environment and culture of the valley through which it flows," said Derrick.

"One of its problems is that the river is very short and starts at the top of the Golden Valley and ends at the bottom. Now suddenly its level has dropped steeply and not just gently down."